Managing Sleep Apnea to Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease

Humans spend roughly one-third of their lives asleep. Skimping on sleep over the long haul can lead to dire health consequences. Problems can include increased risk of heart disease, among other health problems. Sleep apnea in particular is a breathing-related disorder that has been linked to a higher risk of heart problems.

Experts believe sleep is so vital because it is a time when the body grows, repairs, and restores itself. Proper sleep is believed to support immune function and healing after injury or disease. A wide body of scientific evidence shows that improving sleep quality can help lead to improvements in various health outcomes. While sleep cannot fix problems like heart disease, proper sleep can help lower your risk of developing heart problems.

In 2022, the American Heart Association added sleep duration to its list of key factors for maximizing heart health. Sleep apnea is a breathing problem where during sleep, your breathing is periodically interrupted during the night, which can prevent enough oxygen from reaching your heart.

Sleep apnea is estimated to increase heart failure risk by 140 percent, stroke by 60 percent, and coronary heart disease risk by 30 percent, according to researchers.

Symptoms of sleep apnea that occur during sleep include starting and stopping breathing, heavy snoring, and gasping for air. Daytime symptoms can range from daytime sleepiness to headache to sexual dysfunction. If you experience these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider immediately. An in-office sleep study may be needed to confirm a diagnosis of sleep apnea.

Sleep Apnea and Congestive Heart Failure

During sleep apnea, repeated stops in breathing temporarily lowers the supply of oxygen to the heart and lungs. This periodic lack of oxygen causes the release of stress hormones, which can put additional stress on the heart. Blood pressure can also increase during sleep apnea, putting even more strain on the heart.

Shortened duration of sleep is associated with inflammation, which can elevate the risk of heart damage. People with sleeping disorders, such as sleep apnea, are at increased risk of developing heart disease or heart disorders.

Experts do not know whether sleep apnea causes health problems or if having the sleep disorder is related to having a condition, like heart disease.

Sleep Apnea and Risk of Death

It is believed that about 30 million adults in America live with sleep apnea, but only about 6 million are diagnosed.

While sleep apnea is a serious health condition that often goes undiagnosed, it is not usually a deadly condition. But left untreated, sleep apnea can put you at increased risk of various heart and other health problems. It would be rare to die during a sleep apnea event, but there is a risk for people with obstructive sleep apnea who are over 60 years and have severe apnea.

Sleep apnea can raise your risk for heart arrhythmias, which are abnormal heart rhythms. Experts believe that heart arrhythmias may be one of the main reasons behind sudden death in those with sleep apnea. There is also a risk for pulmonary hypertension when blood pressure is too high in the arteries between the heart and lungs. High blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke are other conditions linked to untreated sleep apnea.

It remains unclear whether sleep apnea leads to an increased risk of heart failure or if an increased risk of heart failure is connected to having sleep apnea. Scientists believe there is a connection, but there is no way to know if one causes the other. Even if sleep apnea does not lead to heart problems, the sleeping condition is something that needs to be treated sooner rather than later.

Sleep Apnea Treatment Options

If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, there are a number of treatment options for sleep apnea.

Lifestyle changes can help lower your risk for sleep apnea. Maintaining a healthy weight, getting enough physical activity, limiting alcohol and caffeine intake, and quitting smoking can all help.

For those diagnosed with sleep apnea, there are several types of medical devices, designed to help with positive airway pressure (PAP), that can help the condition. A continuous PAP (CPAP) machine can offer constant air pressure through the mouth and nose to keep your airways open and help with breathing. A related device, known as a bilevel PAP, delivers different pressure based on whether you are breathing in or out. Another PAP variation can adjust the air pressure you receive through the night based on your breathing.

Medications and surgical procedures may be additional treatment options to discuss with your health care provider.

Whether you have a sleep disorder or not, getting a full night’s rest is important for maintaining your overall health, and that of your heart in particular.

Visit the Nora Eccles Harrison Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute (CVRTI) website to keep up with the latest in heart research.